Train-pipe coupling



J. WILLIAMS.

TRAIN PIPE COUPLING.

APPLlCATION FILED DEC. 15. I917. RENEWED MAR. s, 1920.

PatentedS pt. 14, 1920.

- un ts stares JOI-IN WILLIAMS, OE CLINTON, .IGWA.

T AIN- ire COUPLING.

Application,filediDecember Serial No. 207,351. Renewed March 6, 1920. Serial No. 363,664.

To all whom itmag concern Be it known that 1, JOHN HILL-ir s, a citizen of the United States, residin at Clinton,in the county ofClinton and mate of Iowa,'have invented new and useful Improvements in Train-Pipe Couplings, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to train pipe couplings; and it comprises,briefly, a device of the class or character indicated having certain improved features of construction and arrangement which renderit especially applicable for installation in the system of' hose sections are equipped with gaskets, as

usual; but these gaskets, instead of producmg openings or crevices between them, due to their shrmkage, are constantly main- 'tained in steam tight relation by being pressed forcibly toward each other to compensate for shrinkage, the devices imposing such pressure .upon the gaskets being so constructed and 'arrangedas to be autoinati cally detached therefrom immediately the coaches become uncoupled. Consequently,

the dangers to whichboththe train men and the passengers are ordinarily subjectedfor example, the inability of either the engineer or the conductor and the passengers to see the station platform by reason of the escaping'steam whenthe wind is in the proper direction either in stoppingor stepping off the train, and the'liability of'the train-hands to become scalded in coupling and uncoupling the coaches--are completely eliminated, as well as the extra strain u'pon the engine and the waste of steam and fuel.

An embodiment of the invention is illus- .trated in the accompanylng drawing, where Figure' 1 is a sideelevation, and Fig. 2

a plan view, showing-the improved coupling in use; and

Fig. 3"is a vertical section on line'-33,

' viously stated;

confronting ends of a pair of passenger coaches, and 5 and 6 the steam pipe orhose sections with which the coaches are equipped, all of which parts are or may be of the usual character. i f I I The confronting ends of the hose sections Specification of Letters Patent. 1 3133 1 3 1;Sept 14 1,920

" coaches, Sand 4 the d raW-bars-between said 5 and 6 are connectedtogether, inturn, by 7 means of the improved coupling members 7 and S, the construction and arrangement of the component partsof which comprise the sub ect matterof the invention, as prea In the embodiment illustrated, which maybe regarded forall practlcal purposes as preferred, each of said members comprises a tubular neckor socket 9, in which the end of the corresponding hose section is inserted, a {slightly larger tubular element or head 10, which is disposed advance of and is integrally or 'otherwlse rigidly connected to the socket 9," and a cross-p ece or plate 11, connected in a similar way to the head 10 and extending beyond the same at oppositeends. The forward or outer portion ofeach tubular head 10 is formed with aninternal seat 12,'-here shown as frusto-conical or of gradually decreasing diameter from itsouter toitsiriner end, to receive a similarly-shaped annular gasket 13. The latter project slightly beyond the outer ends of their carriers or heads 10, so that their confronting end edges 7 are enabled to abut squarely against each other 'when'the coupling is inuse; rotation of the gaskets and consequent rubbing be ing prevented by means, for instance, of internal keys or similar ribs or, other projections 14 which are formed on the inner walls of the seats 12 and whichfit into the key seats or. grooves 15 provided in the outer walls of'the gaskets, as representedinF1g. 3.

The two coupling members themselves are held 'againstrelative movement by securely attaching to each of the plates {11 a horizontal locking'bar 16, the free end of which slightly projects through a correspondinglyshaped openingl? inthe other plate; B sides serving that purpose, th'e locking-bars also serve to draw the cross-pieces orplates together and thereby maintainthe abutting edge faces of the gaskets'in steam-tight re lation so as to compensate for shrinkage;

and to effect this, each bar=has associated with it a pressure device 18 'in the nature of a bent leaf spring or the like, each of such devices being arranged vertically against the rear face of the adjacent crosspiece and having 1ts terminals inserted .through an opening 19 in the projecting end of the adjacent locking-bar, which latter, as above explainedfis fastened to the other cross-piece. Hence, it necessarily follows that the tension produced by the bending of the springs and their introduction through the openings 19 will be exerted against the locking-bars and will tend to pull them in an endwise direction, and as a result, the two cross-pieces will be constantly pressed toward each other.

To uncouple the two members of the de vice, it is merely necessary to withdraw the springs 18, and this operation may, of course, be carried out directly by hand. It is preferable, however, to effect the operation from a distance, in order to avoid danger of scalding, and it is equally desirable to have it take place automatically in the event of the train parting and thus prevent injury to the hose sections. According to the present construction, the automatic withdrawal of the springs is effected by a pair of bell-crank levers 20, fulcrumed at their apices at 21 on brackets or other supports 22 fastened to the crosspieces at diametrically opposite points. One arm of each lever 20 extends toward the other coach, and is engaged at its terminal with the looped upper end of the adjacent spring so that when. the lever arm moves upward it will lift up the spring with it,

v the said terminal of the arm being twisted into a substantially horizontal position to enable its connection with the spring to be readily effected. The other arm of each lever extends upwardly at an angle to the floor of the coaches, and is connected with the coach at the same side of the coupling by a chain 23, the latter being of such a the invention are believed to be perfectly clear from the foregoing and further description and explanation thereof are, ac-

cordingly, omitted. I I claim as my 1nvent1on:-

1. In a coupling for flexible pipe connections, the combinationof a pair of tubular coupling heads eachprovlded with an mternal annular seat, a pair of gaskets fitted in said seats with their outer edge faces in abutting relation, locking means for the heads conslsting of reversely dlsposed exgage, and means for automatically with drawing the said spring means from I association with their respectlve heads.

2. In a coupling for fiexlble pipe connections, the combination of a pair of tubular coupling heads each provided with an internal annular seat, a pair of gaskets fitted in said seats with their outer edge faces in abutting relation, each head having connected with it an extension which extends across and engages the other head, the said extensions projecting in reverse directions, means for drawing the heads together, and spring means associated with each head and removably engaging with the extension on the other head and with the means for drawing the heads together, whereby a constant pull on the two heads toward .each other is instituted to maintain the abutting edge faces of the gaskets in fluid-tight relation.

3. In a coupling for flexible pipe sections,

the combination of a'pair of tubular coupling heads each provided with an internal annular seat, a pair of gaskets fitted in said seats with their outer edge faces in abutting relation, a locking bar connected with each head, the bars of the two heads extending in reverse directions across towthe opposite head and slidably projecting through the latter to hold the heads against relative turning movement, and spring means movably associated with each head and terminally and withdrawably engaging the adjacent extremity of the locking bar for constantly pressing the heads toward each other and also permitting the heads to be disengaged during uncoupling operations.

4. In a coupling for flexible pipe sections,

the combination of a pair of tubular coupling heads each provided with an internal, annular seat; a pair of gaskets fitted in said seats with their outer edge-faces in abutting relation; a cross-piece rigidly secured to each head; a locking member rigidly secured at one extremity to each cross-piece and having its opposite extremity slidably projecting through the other cross-piece to i hold said heads against relative turning movement; and spring 7 means associated with each cross-piece and engaged with the extremity of the locking member projecting f I V therethrough for constantly pressing said cross-pieces and their connected heads toward each other, thereby to maintain the said abutting edge faces of said gaskets in pling heads havinggaskets with their outer edge faces in abutting relat1on, a cross piece rlgidly secured to each head, a locking lever wmovably associated; with one extremity of tending acrossthe opposite head, and spring means removably associated with thecross p ece of each head to maintain the abutting edge faces of the gaskets in fluid-tightrelation, each spring means being engaged by one of the openlng lever arms for WlthdIZLW- ing said spring means from the portionof the head with which it engages.

6. In a coupling for flexible pipe sections, the combination of a pair of tubular coupling heads, a pair of gaskets carried by said heads with their outer edge faces in abutting relation, the heads having means extending across and engaging each other, a yielding presser device removably associated with each of the said meansofthe cross heads for constantly forcing the one head toward the other a head. to maintain the abutting edge facesof the gaskets in fluid tight relation, and means also carried by the respective heads andengaging theyielding presser devices for withdrawing the latter from association with the means extending across from the respective heads and engaging the latter. V

7. In a coupling for flexiblepipe sections, the combination of a pair of tubular coupling heads; a pair of gaskets carried by said heads with their outer edge faces in abutting relation; spring means associated with each head and terminally extending through a portion of each head for con stantly pressing the same toward the other head, thereby to maintain the said abutting edge faces of said gaskets in fluid-tight relation; and means for automatically withdrawing said spring means for association with their respective heads under predetermined conditions.

8. In a coupling for flexible pipe sections, the combination of a pair of tubular coupling heads; a pair ofgaskets carried by said heads with their outer edge faces in abutting relation; a presser device associated with each head for-constantly forcing the same toward the other head, thereby to maintain the said abutting edge faces of said gaskets in fluid-tight relation; and means for withdrawing each presser device from association with its respective head, embodying an operating lever with which said device is directly connected.

9. In a coupling for flexible pipe sections, the combination of a pair of tubular coupling heads; a pair of gaskets carried by said heads with their outer edge faces in abutting relation; a presser device associated with each'head for constantly forcing the same toward the other, head, thereby to maintain the said abutting edge fa'ces of said gaskets in fluid-tight relation; and means for withdrawing each presser device ,from' association with its respective head, embodyinga lever with whichjsaid device is ,connected,cand a flfixible operating element for said lever. a H

10. In a coupling for flexible pipe sections, the combination of a pair of tubular coupling he adsg a pair of gaskets carried by said heads with their outer edge faces in abutting relation; a yielding presserdevice associated with and terminally extending through a portion of each head for con stantly forcing the same toward the other head, thereby to maintainthe said abutting edge faces of said gaskets in fluid-tight relation; and means individual toan doperatively carrying each presser device and ineluding a .flexible operating element for I withdrawing each presserdevice from associat on w th ts respective head.

11. In a coupling for flexible pipe sec tions, the combination 'of a pair of tubular couplingheads each provided with an interann a r alpa o sket fittedi said seats with their outer edge faces in abutting relation; a cross-piece rigidly securedtoeach head a lockingmemberconnected to each crosspiece and slidablyextending through. the other, cross-piece to'hold.

said heads against relative turning movement; and a pair of oppositely-acting yielding presser devices engaged with said looking members for constantly forcing said a heads toward each other, thereby to maintain the said abutting edge faces of said gaskets in fluid-tight relation.

12. In a coupling for flexible pipe sections, the combination of a pair of tubular coupling heads each provided with an internal, annular seat; a pair of gaskets fitted in said seats with their outer edge faces. in abutting relation; a cross-piece rigidly secured to each head; a locking member connected to each cross-piece and slidably extending through the other cross-piece to hold said heads against relative turning movement; a pair of oppositely-acting yielding presser devices removably' engaged with said look.

ing members for constantly forcing said heads toward each other, thereby to maintain the said abutting edge faces of said gaskets in fluid-tight relation; and positive carrying means for said presser devices and operative to disengage said devices from i the locking members. 1

13. In a-coupling for flexible pipe sections, the combination of a pair of tubular coupling heads each provided with an internal, annular seat a pair of gaskets fitted in said seats with their outer faces in abutting relation; a cross-piece rigidly secured to each head; a locking member connected to each crossspiece and slidably extending through the other cross-piece to hold said heads against relative turning movement; a pair of oppositely-acting yielding presser devicesengaged with said locking members for constantly forcing said heads toward each other thereby to maintain the said abutting edge faces of said gaskets in fluidtight relation; and means for automatically disengaging said presser devices from said locking members under predetermined conditions.

14. 111 a coupling for flexible pipe sections, the combination of a pair of tubular coupling heads each provided with an internal, annular seat; a pair of gaskets fitted in said seats with their outer edge faces in abutting relation; a cross-piece rigidly secured to each head; a locking member connected to each cross-piece and slidably extending through the other cross-piece to hold said heads against relative turning movement; a spring associated with each crosspiece and engaged with the locking member on the other cross-piece for con-- stantly pressing said cross-pieces and their connected heads toward each other thereby to maintain the said abutting edge faces of said gaskets in fluid-tight relation; 1 nd positive pivoted means in reverse positions on the cross-pieces for disengaging said springs from their respective locking members.

15. In a coupling for flexible pipe connec-' locking means for the heads consisting of' projections reversely extending from the respective heads and removably engaging correspondingly reversely positioned receptive means carried by the heads, and yielding means removably inserted through the said projections to hold the latter in connection with the receptive means and the abutting extremities of the coupling heads in fluid tight relation. 7 y

16. In a coupling for flexible pipe connections, the combination of a pair of tubular coupling heads provided with abutting extremities, locking means for the heads consisting of rigid projections reversely extending from opposite side portions of the respective heads and removably engaging correspondingly reversely positioned rigid re ceptive means carried by the heads and yielding means removably inserted through the said projections and engaging portions of the receptive means to holdthe projections in connection with the receptive means and the abutting extremities of the co.upling heads in fluid tight relation.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto se my hand in presence of 'two Subscribing witnesses.

JOHN WILLIAMS.

Vitnesses Mrs. GEO. B. PHELPs, Es'rrrnn PHELPS. 

